Sterilizer.



L. E. HAL-1&1. e. HILL.

STERILIZER. APPLKIATION FI LED JAN. 6, 1913.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

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THE COLUMBIA PLMjOaRAPI-l :0, WASHINGTON, D. c.

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LEON E. HALL AND JOSEPH G. HILL, OF FITCHBURG', MASSACHUSETTS.

STERILIZER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1916.

Applicationfiled January 6, 1913. Serial No. 740,339.

To all whom 2'25 may concern:

Be it known that we, LEON E. HALL and J OSEPH Gr. HILL, both citizensof the United States, residing at Fitchburg,'in the county of WVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have jointly invented a new and useful Improvement in Sterilizers, of which the following is a specification accompanied by drawings forming a part of the same.

The sterilizer forming the subject of our present invention is particularly designed for sterilizing drinking glasses, spoons, and other articles which are used in connection with soda fountains, bars, and like places for the dispensation of liquid refreshments.

It has for its objects to provide a convenient sterilizing apparatus in which the articles to be sterilized may be subjected for a definite period to the action of steam at the requisite temperature to destroy germ life; also to provide means for insuring the requisite degree of heat and the requisite duration of treatment to render the articles sterilized particularly aseptic. These objects, among others, I secure by the construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter described, the novel features being pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a sterilizing apparatus embodying our improvement. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line l4, Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the valve which controls the application of steam for opening the apparatus, and Fig. 6 is a side elevation of our improved sterilizer.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts in the different figures.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

1 and 2 represent annular plates forming respectively the bottom and top of the framework in which the sterilizer is supported. The bottom and top plates 1 and 2 are connected by three tubes 8, 4 and 5, said tubes being connected near their lower ends by curved pipes 6 and 7. The pipe 6 is connected by a pipe 8 with a steam boiler 9, provided beneath its lower surface with a-coiled pipe 10 having its opposite ends 11 and 12- communicating with the interior of the wheel 37 boiler 9, and beneath the coiled pipe 10 we place a gas stove or burner 13 connected by a pipe 1% with a gas supply.

The upper wall 15 of the boiler 9 is slightly curved and is provided at its center with a weighted safety valve 16. Through the upper wall 15 is an opening 17 controlled by a valve carried upon a valve stem and operated by the attendant by means of 1 a hand wheel 18. Removably mounted upon the side wall of the boiler 9 which projects above the curved wall-15 is a cylinder 19 closed at the top and open at its lower end where it rests upon the boiler, said cylinder lnclosing a sterilizing chamber 20. Mounted upon the curved wall 15 of the boiler is a horizontal rack 21 forming a horizontal support for a receptacle for the articles to be sterilized, said receptacle consisting, in the present instance, of the perforated trays 22 and 23 connected by posts 24.

The top of the cylinder 19 is provided with a weighted safety valve 25. The cylinder 19 is connected by arms 26 with cylindrical bars 27 capable of sliding freely in the tubes 8, 4E and 5. Depending from the cylindrical bars 27 are piston rods 28,

equipped at their lower ends with pistons 29 'fitting the interior of the tubes 3, at and 5 and above their communication with the pipes 6 and 7. The cylinder 19 is counterbalanced by weights 30 connected with the cylinder 19 by cords 31 which pass over pulleys 32 mounted upon the upper annular plate 2. The boiler 9 is supplied with a glass water gage 33 and a drawing-off faucet The communication between the pipes 8 and 6 is closed by a valve 35, Fig. 5, operated by a screw threaded valve stem 36 and hand The valve stem 36 is provided With a concentric hole through a portion of its length, the inner end 38 of the hole communicating with the pipe 6 and the outer hand wheel 18 is opened and water is poured upon the curved top 15 of the boiler. The water thus applied runs through the opening 17 into the boiler until the desired water level is reached, as indicated by the glass gage 33. The valve 35 is then opened, con necting the pipes 6 and 7 and vertical-tubes 3, 4 and 5 with the interior of the boiler at 41 which is above the water line. The stove 13 is lighted and steam generated in the boiler has free passage through the opening 17 into the cylinder 19 and also through the pipes 8, 6 and 7, and the vertical tubes 3, 4 and 5 beneath the'pistons 29. The articles to be sterilized,'such as drinking glasses, spoons, cups, and the like, having previously been placed upon trays 22 and 23, will be subjected to the acticn of the steam which fills the sterilizing chamber 20. The sterilization continues until suflicient steam pressure is reached in the boiler to lift the pistons 29 and connected cylinder 19, moving 7 it vertically from the position shown in Figs.

1 and 2 to that shown in Fig. 6, exposing the trays 22 and 23 which may be removed, or the glasses taken therefrom. The trays 22 and 23 are then refilled and the valve '35 closed, bringing the open end 38 of the concentric hole in the valve stem 36 within the pipe 6 and forming a restricted vent through which the imprisoned steam will slowly escape, allowing the cylinder 19 to gradually descend into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The valve 35 is again opened withdrawing the inner opening .38 into the screw threaded casing of the valve, thereby closing the vent. The process of sterilization is then repeated and continued until the accumulated steam pressure is sufficient to again raise the cylinder 19. By properly counterbalancing the weight of the cylinder 19, the latter may be raised and lowered by, the handles 40, the friction of the .ofall drinking utensils. When the water in the boiler has once been brought to the steam forming temperature, We have found but a very few minutes are required to thoroughly sterilize drinking utensils at a temperature ot175 to.200 Fahrenheit.

1. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a closed steam generator, a cylinder having a hermetically closed top and an open bottom resting upon and closed by said steam generator, said cylinder being vertically separable from said steam generator, and means for guiding the vertical movement of said cylin'der'.

2. A sterilizing apparatus compris ng a closed steam generator, a'cylinderhavinga hermetically closed top and an open bottom resting upon and closed by saidsteam generator, saidcylinder being vertically sep- 7 arable from said steam generator, and means 7 for maintaining said cylinder elevated above sa d steam generator. 7 r

3. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a water chamber for generating steam, a steri ALA sterilizing apparatus comprising a rigid framework having vertical Ways, a

sterilizing chamber movable vertically along 7 said Ways and having an open bottom, a support for said sterilizing chamber byfwliich V its open bottom is closed, and means for supplying steam to said chamber. 7

5. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a steam generator, a cylinder open at its lower end and supported on said generator, and 7 means for raising said cylinder by the pressureof steam in said generator.

6. A sterilizing apparatus comprising a cylinderinclosing. a sterilizing chamber open at its lower end, separable means for closing theopen end ofsaidcylindenmeans 'for generating steam, 'means for admitting steam to .said cylinder, and .means for ,raising said cylinder from ts support by the pressure of steam in thelsteain generator.

"GARDNER K. HUnsoN,

E. EsKoLA.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the com missioner of Batent s.

WashingtomD. 6. 

